Improvement in base-ball targets



J'. 0. BELKNAP.

BASE BALL TARGET.

No.179, 150, Patented June 27.1878.

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WITNESSES C INVENTOR I pf N. PEIERS. PNOTO-UTHO SRAPHEI-i. WASHXNGTON 0 c JACKSON BELKNAP, OF MOBILE, ALABAMA.

IMPROVEMENT lN BASE-BALL TARGETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 179,] 50, dated June 27, 1876; application filed J nne 1, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACKSON OGDEN BEL- KNAP, of the city and county of Mobile, State of Alabama, have invented a novel Improvement in Targets, entitled the Base-Ball Target, of which the following is a specification The object of this invention is to produce a new game apparatus and source of amusement for out and in doors, combining healthful exercise with skill and. pleasure, adapted to old and young of both sexes, described as follows:

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the target. Fig. 2 shows the rear view.

A is the hinged or movable plate, bullseye,) covering or filling the opening. Bis the pocket O, the conductor, and D the rods and eyes which secure the pieces together. The base-ball target is composed of three pieces of board, E F G, of suitable thickness and dimensions, neatly fitted together, and attached either by hinges, dowels, or tongues and grooves. Upon the ends or back of each piece are thimbles or screw-eyes, through which metal rods are passed, suitably secured, for the purpose of binding the pieces of the target together firmly, and also to render the separation of the pieces easy when desirable, thus making it more portable and easy to pack. In the center of the middle piece of board is an opening, behind which is a metal or wooden plate, which may also be of cloth, india-rub-- her, or other suitable material, covering or filling the opening, and secured either by a hinge, spring, or other method. This plate may be in one or more pieces, opening'like a single or double door, with spring-hinges to close it quickly. Immediately behind and under this opening, or entirely surrounding it, is a pocket or cage, which may be constructed of wire, sheet metal, cloth, or other material, and which has an opening at the bottom, connecting with a metal or wooden conductor, which, descending to the bottom of the target, forms an elbow, and projects toward the player in front of the target, having a gradual fall at the end, with suitable supports from the ground to keep it in position. The target being erected upon legs, suspended or otherwise, the player stands at a given distance, and throws a ball at the opening, which, if it enters, forces the hinged or movable plate to recede or give way, to admit the ball, and at the same time, by its resistance, turns the ball downward into the pocket, thence into the conductor, which, being on an inclined plane, conveys it to the person throwing it, the plate assuming its former position. Around this central opening may be others with movable plates, similarly constructed, having numbers or pictures painted upon them, all of which may be entirely inclosed in one large halfglobe of wire or other material, forming a pocket or cage strongly fastened to the back of the target, with an opening at the bottom, to which is attached the conductor described, and into which the ball having passed, can find no outlet, except that described. A padding may be used at the back of the pocket,

it' desirable, to protect the ball from wearing.

This target can also be constructed by permanently securing the boards together, or made of one piece of wood or of metal, simply adding the attachments herein described.

Having described myinvention, whatI claim as novel, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

- The improved base-ball target herein described, consisting of the pieces-E F G, center opening or openings, and door A, covering the same, the pocket B, conductor 0, and connecting-rods D, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described and.

shown.

J. O. BELKNAP.

Witnesses:

CHAS. B. STAGKHOUSE, A. D. ANnERsoN. 

